Liverpool are ready to risk losing Naby Keita for free next summer rather than sell him now as contract talks stall, with Reds expecting to sign Dortmund and England star Jude Bellingham in 2023
- Contract talks between Liverpool and midfielder Naby Keita have stalled
- Liverpool could look to sell him now to get a transfer fee for the 27-year-old
- However, they want to keep Keita for now, and risk losing him for free next year
- The Reds expect to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham next summer
Liverpool have no intention of allowing midfielder Naby Keita to leave this window.
Amid interest from former club Red Bull Leipzig, the 27-year-old is considering his future after talks over a new contract stalled and he is entering the final 12 months of his deal.
Liverpool are willing to risk losing him for free next summer but still hope to reach a solution over new terms.
Naby Keita’s talks with Liverpool over a new contract have stalled for the moment
Liverpool don’t want Keita to leave in this window, and are prepared to lose him for free in 2023
The Anfield club have been assessing potential short-term midfield options regardless, though Jurgen Klopp has stressed he does not see solutions in the current transfer market, while Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham is expected to join next summer.
Keita has had a stop-start career since moving to Anfield for £53m in 2018.
Injuries have halted his progress at times, with the Guinea international only making a combined total of 28 league appearances in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
Liverpool expect to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund next summer
His fitness was less of an issue last term as he played 40 matches for the Reds across all competitions, helping Klopp’s side win a domestic cup double.
However, he missed Liverpool’s opening day draw against Fulham through illness earlier this month, and was an unused substitute during their home clash with Crystal Palace on Monday.
With Klopp playing Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho ahead of him against the Eagles, Keita may feel that he has slipped down the pecking order in recent months after getting regular game time towards the end of last season.
Yet Liverpool want to keep hold of him for now, particularly given their injury problems in the middle of the park, with Thiago Alcantara and Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain sidelined, while captain Jordan Henderson has also been short of his best condition recently.
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